Fire investigators determined a three-alarm Makiki fire in which a 49-year-old man was found dead last week was intentionally set, a Honolulu Fire Department spokesman said.

Fire Capt. Scot Seguirant said HFD handed the case over to police for further investigation.

The man was identified by authorities as Alvin K. Asakura. The cause of death is pending.

Terry Kakazu, owner of HASR Bistro and HASR Wine Co., said Asakura was a part-time waiter at the bistro and worked in the wine store, and also was the father of a 9-year-old girl.

Kakazu said authorities asked her whether he was depressed, and others suggested he may have had money problems.

He had been in good spirits on St. Patrick’s Day and joked about his turning 50 and planned a celebration.

He wasn’t depressed but was “really sick” with the flu that day, Kakazu said. A friend who was bringing him antibiotics got a text from him that said “he thinks there’s a fire at his apartment. He can’t get out. He’s trapped.”

“I don’t think he started that fire,” she said. “Why would he do that? His daughter meant the world to him. … Why would he call 911?” which HFD reported.

“He wasn’t financially strapped,” Kakazu said. “We were setting up some investments, and he was working on some direct marketing.”

“It was really devastating and really a shock to find he was in that fire,” she said.

Fifty-one fire personnel responded to the fire at the 10-story Oahuan Tower, 1710 Makiki St., at about 11:25 a.m. March 21, and extinguished it at 12:37 p.m. Damage estimates total $380,000 to units 402, 502 and neighboring units.